Sitting atop her prized mounts, Dani G. Waldman flies through the air with the greatest of ease. So apt, given the cascading feathers down her back.

Fans of show jumping at this week’s Spruce Meadows Masters tournament can’t help but notice Waldman, the rider formerly known as Danielle Goldstein. With a head full of feather extensions, gorgeous blues to match her pale azure jacket, she has stood out for reasons other than her fine performances.

“It’s just fashion — there’s nothing other than that,” said the smiling Waldman, the 92nd-ranked rider in the world. “I make the extensions myself. There are about 3,000 individual feathers and about 75 actual extensions. They’ve been in almost two years. I change the colour every three to four months. I think they’re beautiful.”

The idea to adorn her head with plumage was actually her husband Alan’s.

“I’d had pink hair and blue hair, and I was looking what (else) to do,” the admitted free spirit commented. “I was looking on the computer one night, and I saw the picture of one feather and I thought I could put a feather in. And he was, like, what if you did it all feathers? In my head, I had this idea of how I could do it, and so it evolved over a couple of years. I got better at making them.”

Wherever feathers are found, Waldman will grab them.

“All different places,” she said. “I try to get as many as I can sustainably source, but I get them online, I get them in stores, I pick them up off the ground … I get them everywhere.

“Everyone is very nice to my face. Whether or not they are behind my back, I don’t know. But to my face, it’s always, ‘Wow, so pretty’.”

This sport being rather traditional and fairly straight-laced, there will always be those who frown on an individual who not only wears feathers in her hair but will don yoga pants instead of breeches if she so desires.

“For me, it’s a way to express my individuality,” began the 34-year-old. “We all look the same. My mother has trouble telling us apart when we’re on horses. It’s nice to be able to differentiate. I stay within the rules. In sports and in general, it’s nice to be able to express yourself, and for me, it’s a fun way to do it. Whether people like it or not, it’s up to them. But it makes me feel good.

“They have colour restrictions and things like that. For me, I wear what I find comfortable, I find attractive and make me feel good about myself. And make the riding better, sports-wise. I do things with purpose.”

One of the things Waldman really hopes to do next year is compete on the Israeli Olympic team, which for the first time has qualified for a Games. Born in the U.S., she became an Israeli citizen in 2010, and for her, that decision was a no-brainer.

“I have lot of family and friends in Israel,” explained Waldman, who is based in The Netherlands. “I grew up in a very Zionistic family in New York. Even though I grew up in New York City, it was always the intention that I represent Israel when I became a senior rider. For me, culturally, I feel more of a connection to Israel and the Jewish people, and that was my reason for doing.”

And wouldn’t competing at the Olympics be a … uhmm … feather in her cap.

“For me, that’s primary goal number one,” she said. “Go to the Olympics, win a medal. Win a gold medal. That’s why I do this.”

Her start at the Spruce Meadows Masters — her first time here in several years — have gone swimmingly. On Thursday, she made the jump-off in the first class in the International Ring with the youngest horse in the competition, Gio W-Z.

“This is really serious jumping for an eight-year-old,” she conceded. “He’s so brave and so scopey, and I thought he was ready for this. This seems to be his venue. I haven’t had the best couple of weeks the last two or three weeks showing, so I was a little down. But I came here, and, knock on wood, it’s been quite good and the horses feel great. I haven’t been here in years, but I’m so happy to be back. My groom and I were just saying, we love Canada and we love this show! Canadian people are so pleasant.

“It’s expensive to come over here, and it’s not so logistically simple, so I haven’t had the opportunity. But then they gave me an invitation, and I thought, you know what, I’m coming!”

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